Sterilizing cabinet for glasses, dishes, and the like



Feb. 18, 1941.-

w. A. MccuTcl-IEN SITERILIZING CABINET FOR GLASSES, DISHES, AND THE LIKE 'Fi1ed Aug. 12, 1958 2 sheets-sheet 1 INVENTOR ATTORNEYS Feb. 1s, 1941.

` w. A. MccuTcHEN STERILIZING CABINET FOR GLASSES, DISHES, AND THE LIKE Filed Aug. 12, 1958- 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENroR Will/0m 1Q. MS C u-c/ren ATTORNEYS FJ .IH H IIIIIIaFIIIHIIIIIHlIH m7/ l llllllll lll:

Patented Feb. 18, 1941 UNITED STATES STERILIZING CABINET FOR GLASSES, DISHES, AND THE LIKE William A. McCutchen, Birmingham, Ala., assignor to Anderson Brass Works, Inc., a corporation of Alabama Application August 12,

9 Claims.

My invention relates to a cabinet designed and adapted to sterilize glasses, dishes and the like by means of ultra-violet radiation. The principle of bactericidalradiation has in the recent past been effectively demonstrated, and its adaptability to the sterilization of drinking glasses, soda fountain glasses, and restaurant dishes has already been recognized, but the ultra-violet rays used are not only destructive of bacteria, but they are injurious to the hands and eyes if allowed to have frequent access thereto.

One object of my invention is to vdesign a cabinet, especially adapted for the handling of glasses at soda fountains and the like, which l is adapted to convey glasses through the treatment portion of the cabinet Where they become sterilized, in inverted position, or with their axes suciently inclined to insure complete drainage of the glass, and with the lip area of the glass kept always free of contact with any part of the cabinet or conveyor, and having unobstructed exposure to the germicidal rays both on the inside and on the outside of the glass, so as to insure most complete and effective sterilization of r the lip portion and interior of the glass.

My invention further contemplates the designing of the cabinet for the eifective display of the glasses While under treatment by having glass panels enclosing the ends and front of an oblong cabinet, and having arranged in its long axis a vertical glass partition disposed to protect the rear opening in the cabinet from direct access of the rays so as to protect the hands and eyes of the operator, while leaving complete freedom for the introduction of glasses to be sterilized and the removal of sterilized glasses.

My invention further contemplates the mounting of double hangers or supporting clips for the glasses so that they can be carried on and supported by a singlel conveyor, with the glass mounting elements adapted to permit the ready insertion and removal of glasses in both rows with the use of only one hand.

My invention further comprises the novel details of construction and arrangement of parts which in their preferred embodiments only are illustrated in the accompanying drawings which 'form a part of this speciiication, and in which:

Fig. 1 is a plan View of the cabinet broken away at one end to show in plan the conveyor, glass carriers, and the mounting for one end of the radiating tubes;

Fig. 2 isa cross-sectional view taken on the line II-II of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a detail plan View of a double wire 1938, Serial N0. 224,527

(Cl. Z50- 52) bracket carrier for a pair ofglasses, showing the lower clamp element for attaching same to a chain element; and

Fig. 4 shows the same element .associated with the chain member, as same appears in Fig. 2. f5

Similar reference numerals refer to similar parts throughout the drawings.

In the embodiment selected to exemplify my invention, I show a cabinet oval in shape and comprising a top 5 .and a base 6, the latter having 10 marginal walls 'I and, extending over the rear half of the base, a wall 8 forming a drain board. The top is assembled in spaced relation to the bottom by means of interposed posts, or the like,

9 .and III, which have formed therein recesses '15 for the reception of curvedY glass end panels II and a straight glass front panel I2, but the corresponding straight panel at the back is omitted to provide an opening giving access to the interior of the cabinet for the insertion and rel2 0 moval of glasses. These posts may be welded in place between the top and bottom edges, or otherwise secured to said latter elements, and they hold the top and bottom cabinet members rigidly assembled in spaced relationship. ,25

I mount a hood I3 on the top 5 with an outturned marginal flange 6 connected by screws I4 to the top 5, and within this hood is mounted an electric motor 4 which drives the shaft I5 carrying a worm I6 in mesh with a worm gear v3.0 wheel Il fast on the shaft IB` on which is mounted the right-hand sprocket wheel I9 for driving the endless conveyor chain 20. This shaft II has suitable stepped bearings 2| carried by the members 5 and I3. The top member 5 in its under '35 face lying in the plane of its long axis is formed with a channel 22 which is adapted to receive the upper edge of a glass partition 23, the lower end of which is seated against a shoulder 24 formed near the inner edge of the drain board `40 8. The drain surface is cut away slightly at 25 so that this panel can be rocked in the slot 22 sufficiently to permit of its removal and replacement, thereby making it easy to keep it clean. It will be noted that the drain board has a sloping surface 26 which is inclined both from the long axis of the cabinet and from the cabinet ends toward the charging opening left by the omission of the glass panel in the center of the back wall of the cabinet.

The rear compartment of the cabinet beyond its long diagonal is covered with wire mesh screening 21 or any equivalent means which is suiiiciently open to present no material obstruction to the passage therethrough of the bacteri- 55 cidal rays from the sterilizing lamps 28, two of which are shown in use, and as they are standard commercial units they require no detailed description beyond the statement that they are capable of emitting ultra-violet rays of the type capable of rapidly destroying bacteria.

These lamps, which are of slender cylindrical form, are received at their ends in suitable sockets 29, those at the right hand end being carried by the transformer unit 3|] to which current is supplied through the conduit 3|. The sockets at the other end are mounted on any Suitable bracket or the like 32, and they are there connected in series by the current lead 33.

It will be noted that the exposedsurface of these lamps from which the rays are emitted bear such relation to the glass partition 23 that the latter will serve to intercept rays that would tend to reach the rear opening in the cabinet and thus the hands and eyes of the operators are entirely protected from the rays. In like manner the glass panels in the cabinet, while they will expose the interior to view and thus constitute an attractive characteristic of the cabivnet, will, nevertheless, prevent the rays generated therein from having an injurious effect on the hands and eyes of the public.

In order to intensify the action of the rays from these lamps, and concentrate it on the glasses to be sterilized, I may usea double parabolic reector element k34 under the two lamps so designed and arranged as to reect the downwardlyv directed rays upwardly into and about the glasses 35 to be sterilized.

It is an important feature of my invention that these glasses shall be presented to the sterilizing agency in such position that they will have been drained of any water or other liquid matter therein, as any liquid acts as an intercepter or retardant of the sterilizing rays, as well as itself constituting an element which may render the glass not sterile. My preferred manner of handling the glasses is in inverted position so that they are sure to drain quickly and effectivelyv as soon as they are introduced into the cabinet. To this end, and as one simple means for enabling the glasses to be quicldy mounted and readily demounted and at the same time to prevent the existence of any element that might intercept the free access of the sterilizing rays to all parts except the outside bottom of the glass, I have shown the use of vacuum cups 36, and in the preferred arrangement shown two of these cups mounted on a series of cross arms 31, which arms are each bolted or'otherwise suitably made fast to a channel shaped connector element 3B which forms one of the component links of the chain 20. These cross arms are disposed normally to the path of travel of the chain, and the upper legs of the channel elements 38 are received in and travel through a suitable slot 39 formed in the top 5 so as to receive the chain and to provide a track 40 overhung by the upper leg of the channel members 38, so that the latter ride on this track and are so supported thereby that the loaded chain will not tend to sag. f The inner and outer top sections are braced together by the front and rear arch members The chain is engaged by the sprocket wheels |9 and is caused to travel continuously and slowly so as to provide a suitable time interval for the glasses, while traversing the sterilizing compartment, to insure their being .rendered entirely sterile by the action of the bactericidal rays to which they are fully exposed in the sterilizing chamber.

If desired, bracket arms 4| may be mounted on chain elements 38 intermediate those carrying the cross arms 31 and overhanging on both sides of the chain with their forward or outer ends carrying a single vacuum cup. This arrangement permits an increased number of glasses to be carried in the outer circuit and leaves the inner circuit of glasses available for use when needed.

In the operation of the cabinet, as thus far described, the same is customarily set upon the counter with the loading opening toward the fountain operator and the enclosed glass panelling facing the public so as to furnish a complete vision of the Whole sterilization operation. As glasses are needed, they are Withdrawn from the chain and the washed glasses are introduced bottom up and attached to the chain by pressing them against the vacuum cups. The position of the cross arms 31 with relation to the top 5 of the cabinet is such that the chain will permit any one of these arms to have but slight rocking motion in a vertical plane before an end thereof comes into engagement with the top. In this way any pull or pushl action of a substantial nature will be stopped by contact of the cross arm with the top. This is also true of the bracket arms 4| which overhang on both sides of the line of travel of the chain.

The glasses to be sterilized drain themselves as they approach the sterilizing compartment of the'cabinet, and will be free of any liquid when they come into position above the lamps. Having discharged any surplus water on tothe drain surface 26 so that the latter will run back olf and out of the cabinet, the glasses move slowly into position above the lamps, and it will be noted that no elements are in contact with the glasses in position to intercept the access of the bactericidal rays fromk the lamps to both inside and outside surface areas of theglasses, including the interior bottom of each. The wire mesh 21 is substantially spaced from the glasses and the rays have opportunity to converge and establishfull and complete surface contact with the glasses, whereas if any elements capable of casting a shadow were in contact with the lip area of the glass they would not only intercept the effective action of the bactericidal rays thereon, but by contact therewith would prevent the glass becoming completely sterile at that point.

In Figs. 3 and 4 I show an alternative hanger for conventional glasses 45 having a groove 46 or enlargement near their bottoms. Such glasses can be very readily mounted in spring hanger clips 41 formed by wire suitably clamped to the chain elements 38 by bolts 48 and washers 49,

carried, these arms have their inner ends` beyond the chain bent down at 59 and form a second outwardly facing underhung clip 5|, which is disposed suciently below the level of the clips 41 to enable the glasses to be introduced readily into these clips 5|. In the introduction and removal of glasses with these spring clips, the thrust comes in a horizontal plane and the V'chain will be adequately braced against any `and where the double rows of glasses are to be appeal to the public by reason of the sterilization of glasses that it will provide, but its arrangement is such that the cabinet can be operated with entire safety by the operators, since their hands and eyes are at all times shielded from the emitted rays.

While I have shown my invention in but two forms, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that it is not so limited, but is susceptible of various other changes and modifications, without departing from the spirit thereof, and I desire, therefore, that only such limitations shall be placed thereupon as are imposed by the prior art or as are specifically set forth in the appended claims.

What I claim is:

1. A sterilizing cabinet of the character described, comprising a sterilizing compartment containing lamp means for the emission of bactericidal rays, and an overhead moving carrier for passing drinking glasses and the like through said compartment, said carrier being disposed and comprising means adapted to grasp the overturned glasses above their lip area and suspend them in position to be completely drained of any contained liquid before they traverse said sterilizing compartment and in position for emitted bactericidal rays to have full access to its interior and lip areas.

2. A sterilizing cabinet according to claim 1, in which the moving carrier comprises a series of inverted suction cups, the glasses having bottoms adapted by engagement with said cups to hold the glasses suspended therefrom.

3. A sterilizing cabinet for glasses and the like, comprising a charging compartment, a sterilizing compartment containing in its lower portion means for the emission of bactericidal rays, and an overhead endless carrier comprising means for grasping the bottom ends only of the glasses to suspend them in inverted position, and means to move said carrier so as to cause the inverted glasses to traverse both compartments.

4. A sterilizing cabinet for glasses, comprising an oblong compartment having a vertical ray intercepting glass partition disposed along the intermediate portion of its long axis and having a rear opening with a drain board inclined toward same, a front sterilizing compartment having in its under portion lamp means for the emission of bactericidal rays, an endless chain having overhead tracks extending about the top of the cabinet and traversing both compartments, suitable means to drive the chain, and carrier elements on the chain, said elements and glasses having coacting means which when engaged act to suspend glasses by engagement with their bottom portions only so as to present their lip portions substantially inverted above, and entirely free of anyelement that would prevent direct access thereto of, the sterilizing rays.

5. A cabinet according to claim 4, in which the marginal front and end Walls, as well as the center partition, are of ray intercepting glass with suitable spacer connectors for the top and bottom cabinet elements, whereby the glasses are fully exposed throughout their traverse of the cabinet.

6. A sterilizing cabinet comprising communicating charging and sterilizing compartments, means to emit bactericidal rays in the under portion of the sterilizing compartment, parabolic reector means under the ray emitting means, and endless overhead carrier means mounted to travel in circuit through said compartments and having holder means adapted to coact with complemental holder means on the glasses and present them in draining position before they reach the sterilizing compartment, said carrier means comprising an endless chain with arms overhung on each side thereof and carrying said holder elements which comprise means adapted to engage, and support the inverted glasses by, their bottom portions.

7. A sterilizing cabinet comprising charging and sterilizing compartments, means to emit bactericidal rays in the under portion of the sterilizing compartment, reflector means under the ray emitting means, endless carrier means to move glasses in circuit through said compartments and present them in draining position before they reach the sterilizing compartment, said carrier means comprising an endless chain with arms overhung on each side thereof, with suction elements disposed on each side of the chain to support glasses inverted by engagement with their bottom portions.

8. A sterilizing cabinet for glasses and the like, comprising a charging compartment having a side access opening, a sterilizing compartment containing bottom means for the emission of bactericidal rays, an overhead moving carrier comprising-holder means adapted to receive and hold inverted glasses thrust laterally into said charging compartment, tracks for said carrier that traverse the two compartments, and a loose readily demountable ray intercepting glass baille means separating said compartments except at the cabinet ends and disposed to intercept the direct access of the rays to the opening of said charging compartment.

9. A sterilizing cabinet for drinking glasses, comprising a bottom means for the emission of bactericidal rays, a moving carrier mounted above said means, and a sequence of vacuum cups mounted in inverted position on said carrier and adapted to coact with the bottom of said glasses to suspend them from the carrier in inverted position and present their lip area unobstructedly to the action of said rays.

VILLIAM A. MCCUTCHEN. 

